Awning operator



July 9, 1929 w, PRICE 1.719.850

AWNING OPERATOR Fi led Jan. 21, 1928 INVENTOR. /,e/c

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,719,850 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WILLIAMS PRICE, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO PRICE INSIDE OPERATED AWNING CORR,

OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

AWNING OPERATOR.

Application filed January 21, 1928. Serial No. 248,440.

This invention relates to an improvement in awning operating means whereby provision is made for maintaining the operating means normally locked against operation, with such lock automatically relieved in the application of the winding handle.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of awning operating means which may be entirely operated and controlled, both in raising and lowering the awning, from inside the building or other enclosure, with provision for automatically holding the awning in any desired position without any attention on the part of the operator.

A further object is the provision of means for securely locking the operating means against movement on the withdrawal ofvthe winding handle, the locking means being so constructed as to be automatically released from looking function in the application of the winding handle.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional View, partly in elevation, illustrating the improved awning operating mechanism and showing the parts in position to raise or lower the awning.

Figure 2 is a similar View of the operating end of the winding shaft, the winding handle being withdrawn and the automatic looking means being shown in operative position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the handle-receiving end of the winding shaft.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the handle-receiving end of the winding shaft.

The invention is designed particularly to provide a means which may be operated entirely from within a building or other enclosure for raising or lowering an awning exteriorly of the building to any desired extent, the operating means being controlled by a winding handle which is applied on the end of the winding shaft for operating the latter and the construction including a lock which automatically holds the winding shaft against movement and thereby the awning in fixed position when the winding handle has been disconnected from the shaft, the locking means being so arranged as to be displaced so far as its locking function is concerned by the mere application of such handle to the winding shaft.

In the preferred form of detail, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the

operating means includes the winding shaft 1 which is mounted for rotative movement in a suitable aperture or bearings formed in a window frame or appropriate part, so that the outer end of the winding shaft may be connected directly to the means for raising and lowering the awning and the inner end of such shaft engaged by a winding handle by which the shaft may be rotated to operate the awning.

As a conventional awning operating element, I have shown in Figure 1 a winding drum 2 on which the awning controlling cords are wound, which drum has an axial bore 3 for the reception of the end of the winding shaft 1, the winding shaft in its cooperation with the drum being non-circular in cross section and the axial bore of the drum corresponding in shape to that of the winding shaft. A cage 4 surrounds the drum and is designed to be connected to the outer side of the window frame or other part, as by screws 5, this cage being open at 6 for the passage of the awning controlling cords and the end plates of the cage providing bearings at 7 for the drum 2. y

The winding shaft extends through the window frame or other fixture 8, terminating substantially flush with the inner surface of such frame or like part. The inner end of the winding shaft is surrounded by what may be termed a locking housing 9 in the form of a cylindrical casing seated in an opening 10 in the frame or part 8 through which the winding shaft projects. The locking housing 9 has a face plate 11 by which it may be fixed, through screws 12, to the inner surface of the window or like frame 8, and the end of such housing remote from the face plate is reduced to form a bearing 13 to receive the circular bearing portion 14 of the winding shaft, a collar 15 removably fixed to the winding shaft by set-screws 16 being held against the end of the bearing to prevent endwise movement of the winding shaft in one direction.

The end of the winding shaft within the housing proper is of hollow rectangular form, as at 17, the interior diameter of the housing at this point being of course somewhat greater than the diagonal dimension of the rectangular end of the winding shaft. This hollow rectangular end 17 of the winding shaft is formed in each of its plane faces with a longitudinally ranging opening 18, which openings communicating with the interior of the hollow end form complete passages through said hollow end of the winding shaft in both directions, as clearly indicated in Figure 4.

The locking housing in its upper portion is formed with projecting ears 19 between which is pivoted a locking dog 20, and the housing wall in advance of the ears 19 is formed with a slot 21 through which the dog may freely gravitate when permitted to move. The dog is preferably wedge-shaped in cross section, that is, its lower edge is of reduced width incident to inclining the lower side portions of such dog, and the pivotal mounting of the dog is such that when the dog is in horizontal position, it is wholly free or above the interior surface of the housing. The opening formed in the frame to receive the locking housing is formed with a channel 22 to receive the dog when it is elevated.

The winding handle for operating the winding shaft and thereby raising or lowering the awning comprises the usual handle member 23 formed at one end with a lateral socket 24, the interior dimension of which corresponds approximately in size and shape to that of the rectangular end of the winding shaft, the exterior dimensions permitting the convenient insertion of the socket within the locking housing to fit over the rectangular end of the winding shaft.

In normal position, the windin shaft is so disposed that the openings 18 are in alignment with the dog and the free end of the latter gravitates through the vertically aligned openings 18 and so lock the winding shaft against movement. When desired to raise or lower the awning, however, the handle socket is introduced into the locking housing and fitted over the rectangular end of the Winding shaft. As the socket is moved over the end of the winding shaft, the locking dog 20 is displaced and forced upwardly until the locking shaft is wholly free from the dog influence. The handle is then used to rotate the winding shaft to move the awning to the desired extent, whereupon the winding handle is simply withdrawn.

As the handle is withdrawn, the dog, gravitating toward operating position, gradually follows the moving end of the handle and before the handle is wholly removed from the locking shaft, the dog is in position to prevent movement of the winding shaft in either direction. If the awning should be stopped with an edge of the rectangular end of the winding shaft in line with the dog, the shaft following removal of the handle will move slightly under the weight of the awning, the dog inunediately entering the adjacent opening 18 to lock the shaft. This cooperation of the dog with the rectangular end of the winding shaft is facilitated by the wedgeshaped formation of the dog as will be obvious. It is to be particularly noted, as illustrated in Figure 2, that the locking dog extends entirely' through the winding shaft, thus engaging in what may at the moment be the upper and lower openings 18. A double holding effect is thus secured, rendering it possible to lighten the parts without decreasing the holding effect.

It will be apparent of course that the awning may be completely controlled from inside the building or other structure on which the awning is placed and that it is not necessary to reach outside of the window or door in order to properly position the awning. Furthermore, the improved awning operating means may be applied to any structure with which the use of an awning is desired. Again, it is to be understood that the winding drum here shown is illustrated as means for controlling the usual rope-governed awning, and illustrated is intended to indicate any and all conventional means by which an awning may be operated. For example, some awnings are operated through the use of a turning shaft, in which event the winding shaft of the present improvement may be provided with a universal connection or gear interconnection with such shaft. That is to say, the winding shaft is intended to operate the means provided for directly raising and lowering the awnin and any and all conventional means to this end may be connected to said winding shaft within the spirit of the present invention.

\Vhat is claimed to be new is 1. In an awning operator, a winding shaftadapted to be extended through a fixture from the outer to the inner side thereof, an awning rope drum carried by and o )erated by the outer end of the winding s haft, a locking housing arranged in a recess in the fixture and encircling the inner end of the winding shaft, that end of the winding shaft within the locking housing being of hollow rectangular form with a longitudinally ranging opening in each face thereof, a gravity operated locking dog carried by the locking housing and adapted when free to act to extend through at least one of the openings in the rectangular end of the winding shaft to lock the shaft and thereby the drum against movement, and a winding handle having a socket end for removable connection with the rectangular end of the winding shaft, said socket fitting within the locking housing and serving as it is applied to the end of the winding shaft to displace the locking dog from locking cooperation with the wind ing shaft.

In an awning operator, a winding shaft adapted to be extended through a fixture from the outer to the inner side thereof, an awning rope drum carried by and operated by the outer end of the winding shaft, a locking housing arranged in a recess in the fixture and encircling the inner end of the winding shaft, that end of the winding shaft within the locking housing being of hollow rectangular form with a longitudinally ranging opening in each face thereof, a gravity operated locking dog carried by the locking housing and adapted when free to act to extend through twoof said openings and through the shaft at the rectangular end to lock the shaft and thereby the drum against movement, and a winding handle having a socket of interior form to conform in size and shape to the rectangular end of the winding shaft, said socket in its application to the Winding shaft displacing the locking dog from locking position and in its removal from the winding shaft permitting gravital movement of the dog to lock the shaft prior to complete removal of the handle.

In an awning operator, a winding shaft for actuating the awning, a locking element supported for pivotal movement wholly beyond the shaft, means on the shaft to be engaged by said element when the latter is in operative position to thereby hold the shaft against turning movement, and a handle adapted to be applied to the shaft to operate the same, said handle being adapted in such application to wholly displace the locking element relative to the shaft to thereby permit turning of the shaft free of said element.

4. In an awning operator, a winding shaft for actuating the awning, a locking element supported for pivotal movement Wholly beyond the shaft, said shaft being formed to permit gravital movement of the locking element to interlock said element and shaft to prevent movement of the shaft, and a handle movable lengthwise the shaft and serving in such movement to displace the locking element relative to the shaft and to hold said element so displaced to permit turning of the shaft independently of the locking element.

5. In an awning operator, a Winding shaft for actuating the awning, said shaft being formed at one end for cooperation with a handle and also formed with a locking channel, a locking dog pivotally supported wholly beyond the shaft with its free end adapted to engage the locking channel in the shaft end to lock the shaft against rotation, and a handle cooperating with the formed end of the shaft to rotate the latter, said handle serving, when applied to the shaft, to swing the dog on its pivotal support Wholly free of the locking channel in the handle, the handle serving to maintain the dog in inoperative position to permit rotation of the shaft wholly free of the dog.

6. In an awning operator, a locking housing adapted to be seated in a recess in a fixture and having a face plate overlying and secured to the surface of the fixture, a winding shaft for actuating the awning, said shaft being mounted in the housing, a locking dog pivoted in the housing at one side of the shaft and inwardly of the face plate and adapted to cooperate with the shaft to lock the latter against turning, and a handle having a socket to be introduced into the housing and engage the shaft end for turning the said shaft, said socket displacing the locking dog from locking cooperation with the handle in the movement of the socket longitudinally of the shaft end.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN W. PRICE. 

